From Beach Towels to Hearing Aids: Malta’s Student Entrepreneurs Make Waves

Imagine this: a bustling classroom at the University of Malta, filled with the usual chatter and laughter. Suddenly, the noise fades as two students, Marisa Azzopardi and Daniel Muscat, step up to present their final project. They’re not pitching another app or tech gadget, but something far more innovative and sustainable – upcycled beach towels and affordable hearing aids. The room falls silent, then erupts in applause. This is the story of how two Maltese students won the prestigious Student Entrepreneurship Prize.

Upcycling Malta’s Beaches, One Towel at a Time

Marisa and Daniel’s journey began on the sandy shores of Golden Bay. “We noticed the amount of old, discarded towels left behind,” Marisa recalls. “We thought, why not give them a new life?” Thus, ReTowel was born. Their process is simple yet ingenious. They collect old towels, clean them, and transform them into unique, eco-friendly products like bags, rugs, and even planters. Each piece tells a story, bearing the tag ‘Rescued from…’ followed by the beach where the original towel was found.

ReTowel isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s also about creating jobs. Marisa and Daniel employ students and young adults from underprivileged backgrounds, providing them with fair wages and on-the-job training. “We believe in giving back to our community,” Daniel says. Their products are now sold in several local shops, including the popular Triton Square boutique, The Beach.

Hearing Tech for All

While ReTowel was taking off, Daniel had another idea brewing. He noticed the high cost of hearing aids and the struggle many people face in accessing them. So, he decided to create an affordable alternative. After months of research and prototyping, HearMate was launched.

HearMate is a discreet, behind-the-ear device that connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth, amplifying sound and reducing background noise. It’s not just affordable; it’s also stylish, designed to blend in with various hair colors and styles. Daniel’s goal is to make hearing aids as commonplace as glasses, reducing the stigma around hearing loss.

“I want people to see HearMate and think, ‘That’s cool, I need one of those,'” he says, laughing.

Winning Big and

Marisa and Daniel’s hard work paid off when they were crowned the winners of the Student Entrepreneurship Prize. The prize included a €5,000 grant and mentorship from local business leaders. But for them, the real reward is the impact they’re making.

“We’re not just creating products; we’re creating change,” Marisa says. “We’re showing people that sustainability and social responsibility can be profitable.”

, Marisa and Daniel plan to expand ReTowel and HearMate, both locally and internationally. They’re also looking into creating more job opportunities and partnering with local organizations to promote accessibility and sustainability.

“Malta is a small island, but it’s full of big ideas,” Daniel says. “We’re proof that you don’t need a lot of resources to make a big impact.”

And as for their classroom presentation? “It was nerve-wracking,” Marisa admits. “But when we saw the reaction, we knew we were onto something special.”